Role Overview
Job title: Planning Manager
Type: Permanent
Location: Guildford and Manchester
Salary: Guildford £54,700 – £62,400; Manchester £52,500 – £59,900
Working arrangements: Hybrid – 2 days in office per week.
Purpose of the role
This role sits at the heart of AQA's integrated go‑to‑market approach. You will lead planning frameworks, coordinate priorities across Sales and Subject Support teams, and provide oversight of delivery, risks and resources. Your work will help ensure customer engagement activity is aligned, effective and supports the mission of helping learners realise their potential. You will play a key part in improving visibility, accountability and collaboration across Sales and Subject Support, helping teams focus on the activity that delivers the greatest impact for centres, trusts and subject communities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead planning, governance and delivery oversight for Sales and Subject Support activity, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and customer needs.
- Work with senior stakeholders to manage priorities, risks, dependencies, capacity and resources across multiple programmes, campaigns and initiatives.
- Lead and develop a team of Coordinators and Analysts, creating a collaborative, high‑performing environment and ensuring delivery is supported by robust tracking, analysis and insight.
- Use performance data, reporting and insight to support decision‑making, drive continuous improvement and ensure effective delivery against agreed objectives.
- Oversee planning at centre, trust, segment and subject‑specification level, ensuring that subject and support requirements are clearly identified and coordinated.
- Monitor delivery performance, identify risks and issues and provide clear insight, challenge and evidence‑based recommendations to senior leadership.
- Support effective use of systems and tools such as Microsoft Dynamics and PowerBI to improve planning visibility, activity tracking and performance oversight.
- Lead continuous improvement activities to enhance operational efficiency, planning effectiveness, governance, reporting and cross‑functional ways of working.
Required Experience and Skills
- Significant experience in planning, scheduling, operational coordination or project/programme management within complex environments.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge constructively and build alignment across senior teams.
- Experience leading, coaching and developing individuals within a collaborative, high‑performing team environment.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and turn insight into practical actions and recommendations.
- Experience working in customer‑focused, sales, support, marketing or go‑to‑market environments would be advantageous.
- Proficient using data, reporting and CRM systems to support prioritisation, performance management and delivery oversight.
Benefits
Opportunity to influence strategically important activity, develop leadership and planning expertise, shape activity that supports schools, teachers and learners across the UK, exposure to senior leadership and cross‑functional decision‑making, and opportunities to develop your leadership, programme management and operational planning skills. AQA values collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
Diversity and Inclusion
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation or background—is valued, respected and empowered to thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
Reasonable Adjustments
If you require reasonable adjustments for the application, interview or job, please contact FayeHarrison (she/her) at fharrison@aqa.org.uk or 07813724161.
Planning Manager, Sales and Subject Support in Manchester employer: AQA Recruiting
AQA Recruiting is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Guildford where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have access to professional development opportunities and a supportive culture that values your contributions. Enjoy competitive benefits such as generous annual leave, private medical insurance, and a robust pension scheme, making this role not just a job, but a meaningful career path.
